Mirel Wagner (born 3 December 1987), is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She wa… Read Full Bio ↴Mirel Wagner (born 3 December 1987), is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She was born in Ethiopia and raised in Espoo, Finland.

Wagner has been writing songs since the age of 16. Her self-titled debut album was released in February 2011 by the Finnish indie label Kioski. It was later released in United Kingdom and Europe by Bone Voyage Recordings and in North America by Friendly Fire Recordings. In August 2012 Time Magazine listed Wagner as one of the ″11 Great Bands You Don’t Know (But Should)″. Although her debut album was not a big success, it caused a lot of attention and in February 2014 Wagner was signed by the American record label Sub Pop.

Wagner's second album When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day was released in August 2014. The album peaked number one at the Finnish Album Chart. It was a nominee for the 2014 Nordic Music Prize which is an annual award for the Best Nordic Album Of The Year. She won the prize.

On 21 April 2015, Wagner performed on the music television show Later... with Jools Holland.

She also did the trailer song for Gore Verbinski's 2017 film A Cure for Wellness, which was a cover of The Ramones song "I Wanna Be Sedated".

1 2 3 4
Mirel Wagner Lyrics

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1 2 3 4
what's underneath the floor?

a pretty little face
pretty little eyes
big fat belly birthing out flies
1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4
what's underneath the floor?
1 2 3 4

won't you tell us more?

chewed up lips
milky milk teeth
a little bit of pain
and a whole lot of need
1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4
what's underneath the floor?
1 2 3 4

I can tell you more

a pretty little dream
a lockjawed scream
never had to beg
they come to me

I got big, big heart
and lots of love
I got a big, big heart
and lots of love
got a big, big heart
and lots of love
I got a big, big heart
and lots of love
and it's hard
and it's hard
it's hard

and it's hard
it's hard

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mirel Wagner's "1 2 3 4" may seem cryptic at first, but upon closer inspection, the song seems to be a contemplation of what lies beneath the surface, both literally and figuratively.

The repeated question of "what's underneath the floor?" seems to be a metaphor for what lies beneath the façade of people and society - the dark and unseemly aspects that we try to hide or ignore. The lyrics then go on to describe a "pretty little face," which could be interpreted as a symbol of superficial beauty that hides darker secrets.

The next stanza describes "chewed up lips" and "milky milk teeth," which could represent innocence and vulnerability, but are also juxtaposed with the image of a "big fat belly birthing out flies." This stark contrast could represent the ugliness and decay that can exist alongside beauty and youth.

The final stanza seems to shift to a more personal perspective, with the singer describing their own "big, big heart and lots of love" that is hard to handle. This could be interpreted as a struggle to reconcile a caring nature with the harsh realities of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

1 2 3 4
Asking what is beneath the floor

what's underneath the floor?
Curiosity about what is below

a pretty little face
Describing a face as beautiful

pretty little eyes
Noting that the eyes are also beautiful

big fat belly birthing out flies
Observing flies coming out from a large belly

1 2 3 4
Repeating the question of what is underneath the floor

won't you tell us more?
Asking for more details about what is down there

chewed up lips
Describing a mouth with damaged lips

milky milk teeth
Observing the presence of milk teeth

a little bit of pain
Noting some level of discomfort or suffering

and a whole lot of need
Implying there is a strong desire for something